Archives for May 2016

You don’t have to look far to find countless promises offering to help us fight fatigue and boost our energy. From vitamin supplements and exercise, to energy shots and double espresso, we all find ourselves seeking ways to boost our energy and muster enough strength and stamina to make it through the week…or day. And to be clear, I’m not suggesting that some of the above options are not valid resources for regaining strength as we battle daily fatigue. But I firmly believe there is a spiritual component that is just as important when we find ourselves worn out and weary.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fixour eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:1-2

Yes, life often feels like a race to the finish line! But this passage gives us some practical instruction and encouragement on finding the strength and energy we need.…continue reading

Do you recall that song with the line “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down”? (I’m probably dating myself with this reference.) But it doesn’t have to be raining or a Monday to experience a discouraging day.

We’ve all had those days when life is not going as planned. We find ourselves hoping things will get better. Hoping things will change—whether it be in our marriage, in our finances, in our parenting or in our job.

Many times my feelings of hopelessness are not due to major, life-altering events or problems. Very often, they are the small disappointments I encounter throughout my day. When I am tired and stressed, these little moments of disappointment often build upon one another making mountains out of molehills.

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Is there an expectation or desire of your heart for which you are waiting?

Summer is the season in which we find ourselves looking forward to a little relaxation! It’s time for pool parties, longer days of sunlight, basking in the sunshine, sitting on the porch swing sipping lemonade, bare feet in the sand, ocean breezes, flip flops, ice cream, baseball, cookouts and picnics. We look forward to vacation and a bit of rest and relaxation before our year cranks back up with a calendar full of activities and demands on our schedules that can just drain us!

It’s easy to allow other things to press in and crowd out our time in God’s Word and in His presence each day. One of the greatest benefits of my walk of faith has been to study the attributes and names of God. God reveals Himself to us throughout the Scriptures so that we might know Him and experience the joy found in a relationship with Him. Years ago through a Precept Bible study, I was taught to mark and note any reference to a name or characteristic of God when reading Scripture. This has been an amazing practice in my life. In times of need or when I find it difficult to trust God in a particular circumstance, knowing who He is and calling to mind His names and attributes has grown my faith and changed my life. It transforms my thoughts, attitudes, and actions. The more I know God, the more I love Him and trust Him in even greater ways. I hope through this devotional study, you’ll come to know God and grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Our guiding verse for this series is Psalm 113:3:

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! —Psalm 113:3

Each week we’ll focus on a verse or passage of Scripture that speaks to an attribute or characteristic of God found in His Word (SOAK). Then we’ll spend time praising Him (SHINE). We’ll use the imagery found in the summer season to prompt us to praise God.

UPDATE:

The Summer Soak Devotional series is no longer available on the blog. We’ve published! It is available in paperback or ebook through Amazon.